Consistency between marker‐ and genealogy‐based heritability estimates in an experimental stand of Prosopis alba (Leguminosae)

Abstract

Prosopis represents a valuable forest resource in arid and semiarid regions. Management of promising species requires information about genetic parameters, mainly the heritability (h(2)) of quantitative profitable traits. This parameter is traditionally estimated from progeny tests or half-sib analysis conducted in experimental stands. Such an approach estimates h(2) from the ratio of between-family/total phenotypic variance. These analyses are difficult to apply to natural populations of species with a long life cycle, overlapping generations, and a mixed mating system, without genealogical information. A promising alternative is the use of molecular marker information to infer relatedness between individuals and to estimate h(2) from the regression of phenotypic similarity on inferred relatedness. In the current study we compared h(2) of 13 quantitative traits estimated by these two methods in an experimental stand of P. alba, where genealogical information was available. We inferred pairwise relatedness by Ritland's method using six microsatellite loci. Relatedness and heritability estimates from molecular information were highly correlated to the values obtained from genealogical data. Although Ritland's method yields lower h(2) estimates and tends to overestimate genetic correlations between traits, this approach is useful to predict the expected relative gain of different quantitative traits under selection without genealogical information.

Evidences of local adaptation in quantitative traits in Prosopis alba (Leguminosae)

“…By contrast, it has been suggested that P. alba is not able to survive outside its native range in Argentina because of its tiny thorns and its highly palatable foliage that is browsed on by livestock (Felker 2009). However, the genetic variance of spine length within population is high (Bessega et al 2009) and inappropriate use of this species might drive an increase of spine length by negative selection.…”

“…Taking into account that evidence from Bessega et al (2009) indicates that the P. alba plantation differ from a half-sib model, in the current study we modified the estimate according to Gauzere et al (2013). In a fine scale mating study in P. alba Bessega et al (2000) found that within the offspring of individual mother plants about 17 % correspond to full-sibs and 83 % to half-sibs.…”

“…The data are those from Bessega et al (2009) and comprise the genotypes of 142 individuals in the following loci (Mo05, Mo07; Mo08, Mo09, Mo13 and Mo16) (Mottuora et al 2005). Data on genetic variability, characterization of microsatellite, heritability estimates can be found in Bessega et al (2009).…”

“…The traits analyzed included: three life history, 11 leaf morphology and spine length from Bessega et al (2009). Height (HEI) and trunk diameter (DB) (basal diameter at 20 cm above the ground) were scored in the field and Biomass (BMS) of each tree was estimated using the regression equation BMS = log wt = 2.7027 9 log DB -1.1085 proposed by Felker et al(1989), where log wt is the logarithm of fresh weight (kg) and log DB is the logarithm of trunk diameter (cm).…”

Accuracy of dominant markers for estimation of relatedness and heritability in an experimental stand of Prosopis alba (Leguminosae)

“…The results were compared with direct estimates based on half-sib analysis and previous results on the same material (Bessega et al 2009) based on six co-dominant (microsatellite) markers.…”